National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Events (1)
- Antibiotics (2)
- Anxiety (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (1)
- Blood Pressure (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Care Coordination (1)
- Caregiving (2)
- Care Management (1)
- Case Study (1)
- (-) Children/Adolescents (21)
- (-) Chronic Conditions (21)
- Depression (1)
- Diabetes (2)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (1)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (1)
- Healthcare Costs (2)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
- Hepatitis (1)
- Hospitalization (1)
- Implementation (1)
- Inpatient Care (2)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (1)
- Medication (2)
- Mortality (1)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Obesity (1)
- Obesity: Weight Management (1)
- Palliative Care (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Prevention (3)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (2)
- Quality of Life (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (5)
- Risk (1)
- Screening (3)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Sickle Cell Disease (2)
- Telehealth (1)
- Transitions of Care (2)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (2)
- Urban Health (1)
- Vulnerable Populations (1)
- Young Adults (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 21 of 21 Research Studies DisplayedKieren MQ, Kelly MM, Garcia MA
Parent experiences with the process of sharing inpatient safety concerns for children with medical complexity: a qualitative analysis.
The objective of this study was to describe the process of identifying and reporting inpatient safety concerns from the perspective of parents of children with medical complexity (CMC). Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with English and Spanish-speaking parents of CMC at two tertiary children's hospitals. The parents described a multi-step process of reporting their safety concerns and a spectrum of staff response and validation. The researchers concluded that their findings could inform family-centered interventions that support safety concern reporting in the inpatient setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS025781.
Citation: Kieren MQ, Kelly MM, Garcia MA .
Parent experiences with the process of sharing inpatient safety concerns for children with medical complexity: a qualitative analysis.
Acad Pediatr 2023 Nov-Dec; 23(8):1535-41. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.06.008..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Patient Safety, Inpatient Care, Chronic Conditions
Soulsby WD, Lawson E, Okumura M
Socioeconomic factors are associated with severity of hospitalization in pediatric lupus: an analysis of the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database.
This study’s goal was to investigate the relationship of income level and other socioeconomic factors with length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and severe lupus features using the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). The cohort included children aged 2-20 identified with lupus hospitalization in the 2016 KID using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes (M32). A total of 3,367 unweighted lupus hospitalizations were identified. Income level was found to be a statistically significant predictor of increased LOS in the hospital for those in the lowest income quartile. Black race, "other" race, and public insurance were also associated with severe lupus features.
AHRQ-funded; HS026383.
Citation: Soulsby WD, Lawson E, Okumura M .
Socioeconomic factors are associated with severity of hospitalization in pediatric lupus: an analysis of the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database.
Arthritis Care Res 2023 Oct; 75(10):2073-81. doi: 10.1002/acr.25121..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Hospitalization, Chronic Conditions
Mauskar S, Ngo T, Haskell H
In their own words: safety and quality perspectives from families of hospitalized children with medical complexity.
The purpose of this study was to address the gap of research on inpatient safety/quality experience of Children with medical complexity (CMC) and identify otherwise unrecognized, family-prioritized areas for improving safety/quality of children with medical complexity (CMC). Out of 208 families surveyed, 237 (88%) families completed surveys; 83 families offered 138 free-text safety responses about medications, feeds, cares, and other categories. The study found that themes included unmet expectations of hospital care/environment, lack of consistency, provider-patient communication lapses, families' expertise about care, and the value of transparency.
AHRQ-funded; HS025781.
Citation: Mauskar S, Ngo T, Haskell H .
In their own words: safety and quality perspectives from families of hospitalized children with medical complexity.
J Hosp Med 2023 Sep; 18(9):777-86. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13178..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Patient Safety, Quality of Care, Chronic Conditions
Warnick J, Darling KE, Topor LS
Formative development of a weight management intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Researchers interviewed overweight or obese adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), their caregivers, and pediatric endocrinologists to understand if they would be interested in a weight management intervention adapted for youth with T1D. The results provided detailed recommendations for the adaptation of a behavioral weight management intervention. Five central themes emerged: program content, programmatic messaging, program structure, social support, and risk of eating disorders.
AHRQ-funded; HS027071.
Citation: Warnick J, Darling KE, Topor LS .
Formative development of a weight management intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Pediatr Diabetes 2023; 2023. doi: 10.1155/2023/9584419..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Obesity, Chronic Conditions, Obesity: Weight Management
Kuzma N, Khan A, Rickey L
Effect of Patient and Family Centered I-PASS on adverse event rates in hospitalized children with complex chronic conditions.
This study’s objective was to compare the effect of the intervention Patient and Family Centered (PFC)I-PASS on adverse events (AE) rates in children with and without complex chronic conditions (CCCs). A cohort of 3106 hospitalized children from seven North American pediatric hospitals between December 2014 and January 2017 were included. An effect modification analysis did not show difference in the intervention on children with and without CCCs. There was no statistically significant change in AEs for children with or without CCCs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Kuzma N, Khan A, Rickey L .
Effect of Patient and Family Centered I-PASS on adverse event rates in hospitalized children with complex chronic conditions.
J Hosp Med 2023 Apr;18(4):316-20. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13065.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Chronic Conditions, Adverse Events, Inpatient Care, Transitions of Care
Reeves SL, Peng HK, Wing JJJ
Changes in hydroxyurea use among youths enrolled in Medicaid with sickle cell anemia after 2014 revision of clinical guidelines.
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe changes in hydroxyurea use among youths with sickle cell anemia (SCA) before and after the release of the 2014 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. Data was taken from Michigan and New York State Medicaid programs, 2010-18, and the study population included youths aged 1 to 17 with SCA. The findings suggest that hydroxyurea was substantially underused in spite of its establishment as the primary disease-modifying therapy for SCA, and that there was incomplete clinician or patient uptake of the new guidelines. The authors conclude that increased use of hydroxyurea may require a multifaceted approach that includes addressing multiple system- and patient-level barriers.
AHRQ-funded; HS027785.
Citation: Reeves SL, Peng HK, Wing JJJ .
Changes in hydroxyurea use among youths enrolled in Medicaid with sickle cell anemia after 2014 revision of clinical guidelines.
JAMA Netw Open 2023 Mar;6(3):e234584. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.4584.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Sickle Cell Disease, Chronic Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice
Dunbar PJ, Sobotka SA, Rodean J
Prevalence of and spending on ear, nose, throat, and respiratory infections among children with chronic complex conditions.
The impact of ear, nose, throat, and respiratory infections (ENTRIs) on children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) may vary from that of their counterparts. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and expenditure of ENTRIs in children with and without CCCs. A retrospective evaluation of 3,880,456 children aged 0-18 years enrolled in 9 US state Medicaid programs in 2018, as recorded in the IBM Watson Marketscan Database, was conducted. Feudtner's classification system was employed to identify the type and quantity of CCCs. The prevalence of ENTRIs, defined as one or more healthcare visits for ENTRIs, and Medicaid expenditure on ENTRIs were compared based on CCC status using chi-square tests and logistic regression. The study found that ENTRIs were more prevalent in children with CCCs than in those without. Children with a CCC represented approximately one-fourth ($145.8 million [US]) of the total ENTRI expenditure. Excluding throat and sinus infections, the prevalence of ENTRIs rose with the number of CCCs. For instance, the prevalence of lower-airway infections increased from 12.5% to 37.5% as the number of CCCs grew from zero to ≥3. Inpatient care-associated ENTRI expenditure rose from 9.7% to 92.8% as the number of CCCs increased from zero to ≥3.
AHRQ-funded; HS025138
Citation: Dunbar PJ, Sobotka SA, Rodean J .
Prevalence of and spending on ear, nose, throat, and respiratory infections among children with chronic complex conditions.
Acad Pediatr 2023 Mar;23(2):434-40. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.07.004.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Respiratory Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs
Mills J, Barnhart H
AHRQ Author: Mills J
Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.
This Putting Prevention into Practice case study is used to increase understanding of the USPSTF final recommendation on screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. A case study was presented using a 12-year-old-patient with no specific concerns but had gained 18 pounds since their last wellness visit and lives a sedentary lifestyle. The patient’s family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus in maternal and paternal grandparents is described. Three multiple-choice questions are presented regarding harms and benefits of screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes for that patient.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Mills J, Barnhart H .
Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.
Am Fam Physician 2023 Jan; 107(1):79-80..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Children/Adolescents, Diabetes, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Prevention, Chronic Conditions, Case Study
Chou R, Blazina I, Bougatsos C
Screening for hepatitis B virus infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
The authors updated the 2014 hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening review in nonpregnant adolescents and adults to inform the USPSTF. They found no direct evidence for the clinical benefits and harms of HBV screening vs no screening. Antiviral therapy for HBV infection was associated with improved intermediate outcomes and may improve clinical outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500009I.
Citation: Chou R, Blazina I, Bougatsos C .
Screening for hepatitis B virus infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2020 Dec 15;324(23):2423-36. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.19750..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Children/Adolescents, Hepatitis, Chronic Conditions, Screening, Evidence-Based Practice, Prevention
Desai AD, Wang G, Wignall J
User-centered design of a longitudinal care plan for children with medical complexity.
This study’s goal was to determine content priorities and design preferences for a longitudinal care plan (LCP) among caregivers and healthcare providers who care for children with complex medical conditions (CMC) in acute care settings. Thirty iterative one-on-one design sessions with 10 caregivers and 20 providers were conducted. There was high within-group variability in content preferences among caregivers compared to provider groups. The authors identified 6 design preferences: a familiar yet customizable layout, a problem-based organization schema, linked content between sections, a table layout for most sections, a balance between unstructured and structured data fields, and use of family-centered terminology.
AHRQ-funded; HS024299.
Citation: Desai AD, Wang G, Wignall J .
User-centered design of a longitudinal care plan for children with medical complexity.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2020 Dec 9;27(12):1860-70. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa193..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Chronic Conditions, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Care Coordination, Caregiving
Bogetz JF, Revette A, Rosenberg AR
"I could never prepare for something like the death of my own child": parental perspectives on preparedness at end of life for children with complex chronic conditions.
This study’s goal was to elucidate aspects important to preparedness at end of life (EOL) among bereaved parents of children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs). Participants answered 21 open-response queries on communication, decision-making, and EOL experiences as part of the Survey of Caring for Children with CCCs. Findings showed that most bereaved parents of children with CCCs described feeling unprepared for their child's EOL, despite palliative care and advance care planning, suggesting preparedness is a nuanced concept beyond "readiness." Recommendations included more research to identify supportive elements among parents facing their child's EOL.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Bogetz JF, Revette A, Rosenberg AR .
"I could never prepare for something like the death of my own child": parental perspectives on preparedness at end of life for children with complex chronic conditions.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2020 Dec;60(6):1154-62.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.06.035..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Mortality, Chronic Conditions, Palliative Care
Liu FF, Lew A, Andes E
Implementation strategies for depression and anxiety screening in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center: a quality improvement project.
The objective of this study was to share key strategies that led to successful mental health screening (MHS) implementation in one pediatric cystic fibrosis center and to report implementation and screening outcomes. Results showed that leveraging coproduction to address stakeholder needs led to successful implementation of a sustainable MHS process.
AHRQ-funded; HS026393.
Citation: Liu FF, Lew A, Andes E .
Implementation strategies for depression and anxiety screening in a pediatric cystic fibrosis center: a quality improvement project.
Pediatr Pulmonol 2020 Dec;55(12):3328-36. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24951..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Respiratory Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Depression, Anxiety, Behavioral Health, Screening, Implementation, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Chambers EC, Heller C, Fiori K
Chronic pediatric health conditions among youth living in public housing and receiving care in a large hospital system in Bronx, NY.
This study compared the prevalence of chronic pediatric health conditions for youth in public housing with youth not in public housing using clinical electronic health record (EHR) and housing data. Findings showed that disparities in health conditions among youth in public housing were more common in early adolescence: asthma, obesity, depression/anxiety, and behavioral disorders. Chronic pediatric conditions like asthma and obesity that lead to significant morbidity into adulthood are more common among youth living in public housing; however, this pattern is not consistent across all chronic conditions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026396.
Citation: Chambers EC, Heller C, Fiori K .
Chronic pediatric health conditions among youth living in public housing and receiving care in a large hospital system in Bronx, NY.
Glob Pediatr Health 2020 Nov 11;7:2333794x20971164. doi: 10.1177/2333794x20971164..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Vulnerable Populations, Chronic Conditions, Urban Health
Tremblay ES, Ruiz J, Buccigrosso T
Health care transition in youth with type 1 diabetes and an A1C >9%: qualitative analysis of pre-transition perspectives.
The purpose of this training was to explore expectations for transition to adult care and experiences with transition planning among adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes and an A1C >9% at a tertiary care U.S. pediatric center. The investigators concluded that a lack of transition preparation and anxiety about transition and adult care among youth with type 1 diabetes and elevated A1C.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Tremblay ES, Ruiz J, Buccigrosso T .
Health care transition in youth with type 1 diabetes and an A1C >9%: qualitative analysis of pre-transition perspectives.
Diabetes Spectr 2020 Nov;33(4):331-38. doi: 10.2337/ds20-0011..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Young Adults, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Transitions of Care, Patient Experience
Kaelber DC, Localio AR, Ross M
Persistent hypertension in children and adolescents: a 6-year cohort study.
The purpose of this study was to determine the natural history of pediatric hypertension. The study was conducted over a 72-month period among 165 primary care sites; blood pressure measurements from two consecutive 36-month periods were compared. Findings indicated that, in a primary care cohort, most children initially meeting criteria for hypertension or elevated blood pressure had subsequent normal blood pressure levels or did not receive recommended follow-up measurements. These results highlight the need for more nuanced initial blood pressure assessment and systems to promote follow-up of abnormal results.
AHRQ-funded; HS021645.
Citation: Kaelber DC, Localio AR, Ross M .
Persistent hypertension in children and adolescents: a 6-year cohort study.
Pediatrics 2020 Oct;146(4):Oct. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3778..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Huth K, Amar-Dolan L, Perez JM
Visiting Jack: mixed methods evaluation of a virtual home visit curriculum with a child with medical complexity.
This study’s objective was to evaluate the impact of participation in a virtual home visit curriculum on pediatric residents’ confidence, knowledge, and application of knowledge in caring for children with medical complexity (CMC) in the home and community. This prospective pre-post intervention study was conducted in 2019 with first-year pediatric residents using quantitative and qualitative methods. The intervention used was an online video-based curriculum followed by an in-person seminar. Twenty-four residents participated. All reported increased confidence in all aspects of complex care presented in the curriculum. Half of them (12) participated in a follow-up interview or focus group. Four themes identified were: 1) recognizing prior attitudes towards complexity; 2) new mental framework for mental care at home; 3) drivers of behavior change; and 4) commitment to change practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Huth K, Amar-Dolan L, Perez JM .
Visiting Jack: mixed methods evaluation of a virtual home visit curriculum with a child with medical complexity.
Acad Pediatr 2020 Sep-Oct;20(7):1020-28. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.05.001..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Chronic Conditions, Education: Continuing Medical Education
Beltran Ale G, Benscoter D, Hossain MM
Impact of respiratory viral polymerase chain reaction testing on de-escalation of antibiotic therapy in children who require chronic positive pressure ventilation.
This study examined whether positive viral infection results stops antibiotic use in children who require chronic positive pressure ventilation (CPPV) who are frequently hospitalized with acute respiratory infections. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 118 children on CPPV who had respiratory viral polymerase chain reaction (RVP) testing on admission. A viral pathogen was identified in 46.5% of the cases, with rhinovirus the most frequently identified. Antibiotic de-escalation occurred in only 33% of admissions and did not seem to impact antibiotic prescribing for hospitalized children on CPPV.
AHRQ-funded; HS012538.
Citation: Beltran Ale G, Benscoter D, Hossain MM .
Impact of respiratory viral polymerase chain reaction testing on de-escalation of antibiotic therapy in children who require chronic positive pressure ventilation.
Pediatr Pulmonol 2020 Aug;55(8):2150-55. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24884..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Respiratory Conditions, Antibiotics, Medication, Chronic Conditions
Donovan BM, Abreo A, Ding T
Dose, timing, and type of infant antibiotic use and the risk of childhood asthma.
This study examined the association between dose, timing and type of infant antibiotic use and the risk of childhood asthma. The study examined a cohort of 152,622 children enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid Program. At least 79% had at least one antibiotic prescription fill during infancy. There was a 20% increase in odds of childhood asthma for each additional antibiotic filled. There was no significant association between timing, formulation, anaerobic coverage and class of antibiotics and childhood asthma. However, broad spectrum antibiotic fills increased the odds of development of childhood asthma compared to narrow spectrum only fills.
AHRQ-funded; HS018454.
Citation: Donovan BM, Abreo A, Ding T .
Dose, timing, and type of infant antibiotic use and the risk of childhood asthma.
Clin Infect Dis 2020 Apr 10;70(8):1658-65. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciz448..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Children/Adolescents, Antibiotics, Medication, Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Risk, Chronic Conditions
Bates KE, Davis CS, Reeves SL
Designing a multistakeholder collaboration to improve preventive care for children with sickle cell anemia.
Researchers organized two novel multi-stakeholder design meetings to identify potential interventions to deliver high-quality preventive care for children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Invitees included patients with SCA, patients’ families, and representatives from pediatric hematology clinics, Medicaid health plans, community organizations, and one state Medicaid program. The researchers found that bridging gaps between stakeholder groups identified many potential interventions to improve SCA preventive care delivery at all levels of the health care system. They concluded that similar multi-stakeholder discussions may be useful for other communities interested in improving preventive care for children with SCA or other chronic pediatric diseases.
AHRQ-funded; HS025292.
Citation: Bates KE, Davis CS, Reeves SL .
Designing a multistakeholder collaboration to improve preventive care for children with sickle cell anemia.
J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2020 Apr;42(3):e152-e58. doi: 10.1097/mph.0000000000001666..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Sickle Cell Disease, Prevention, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Delivery
Cheng BT, Smith SS, Fishbein AB
Functional burden and limitations in children with chronic sinusitis.
The objective of this study was to use a validated pediatric quality of life (QOL) tool to quantify the impact of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a representative epidemiological sample. Findings showed that pediatric CRS was associated with substantial QOL burden across multiple psychosocial and cognitive domains and that CRS children with lower family income and comorbid asthma, anxiety, and depression had higher Columbia Impairment Scale scores associated with even greater functional impairment. These findings suggested that pediatric CRS might be a population requiring greater attention and screening for mental health symptoms.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Cheng BT, Smith SS, Fishbein AB .
Functional burden and limitations in children with chronic sinusitis.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2020 Jan;31(1):103-05. doi: 10.1111/pai.13121..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Quality of Life, Healthcare Costs, Respiratory Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Anagnostou A, Hourihane JO, Greenhawt M
The role of shared decision making in pediatric food allergy management.
Shared decision making was first highlighted in a report by the Institute of Medicine in 2001. The primary aim of this initiative was to improve the quality of care provided to patients in the United States by creating a health care system that is safe, effective, efficient, and equitable. For the purposes of this review, the investigators discussed different areas of food allergy management within a single complex case, focusing on the role of shared decision making.
AHRQ-funded; HS024599.
Citation: Anagnostou A, Hourihane JO, Greenhawt M .
The role of shared decision making in pediatric food allergy management.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020 Jan;8(1):46-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.09.004..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Shared Decision Making, Chronic Conditions, Care Management